Weyerhaeuser High School is located in Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin, a small
town that does not have many local businesses. To encourage the development
of local industry and to prepare students for work and future education,
the school has developed a solar-powered lumber-drying business called
the Blue Hills Manufacturing Partnership. This business is managed by high
school students during their junior and senior years. They run the operation
in addition to taking academic classes at the school.

In the classes at Weyerhaeuser, many teachers have integrated workplace
training and skills as well as applied lessons relating to the Blue Hills
Manufacturing Partnership. For example, trigonometry/pre-calculus classes
analyze kiln costs and profits, graph solar kiln temperature data, and
prepare a market analysis to determine cost and profit of manufactured
wooden boxes. English and communications classes develop resumes, practice
interviewing skills, write sales and marketing letters, and learn public
relations protocol. Ecology classes study forest management, write position
papers defending their stand on forest use, and learn to read a topographical
map. Art classes design sales brochures and business cards.

Tindall, Gugerty, Phelps, Weis, and Dhuey (1996) describe the goals
of this project:

"To develop an integrated curriculum in which content and delivery
focus on authentic tasks related to school-based work experience.

To develop and implement individual educational plans/programs to meet
the needs of identified students.

To develop articulation agreements between area technical colleges
and universities.

To develop and implement a portfolio system that incorporates career
and other relevant material." (p. 13)

The learning objectives of the Blue Hills Manufacturing Partnership
are as follows:

"Students will demonstrate higher levels of achievement in math,
science, and communications, and will increase their technical competence.

Students will have written career plans throughout high school along
with career goals and strategies to achieve them. Students will leave high
school with plans for postsecondary education and/or work.

Students will experience and succeed in an uninterrupted continuum
of learning and experiences. This continuum will be guided by curricular
maps for specific postsecondary programs, which complement their career
plans.

Students will develop, market, operate, and maintain a business to
dry lumber.

Students will learn wood construction techniques by building solar-powered,
wood-burning kilns.

Students will design, manufacture, and market wood-based products.

Students may earn advanced standing and/or develop skills that will
help in the transition from high school to postsecondary education.

Students will develop work competencies." (pp. 13-14)

Students receive a share of stock for each semester of participation
in the project. Stock accumulates until the senior class trip; then it
is exchanged for the face value of the worth of each share, based on the
success of the business.

Both students and teachers agree that the Blue Hills Manufacturing Partnership
has made learning more interesting and relevant. The students have learned
practical workplace skills that will make them more valuable employees.
In addition, many students will be able to gain entry level or advanced
placement in various courses at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.